Why Are Big Rigs So Dangerous?

15 Jun 16

posted by
Arnold & Itkin LLP

Truck accidents account for thousands of
fatal and injury-causing accidents in the United States every year. While trucks
make up only 4.3 percent of vehicles on the road today, the statistical
likelihood of a truck causing a fatal injury is a far higher percentage.
Why do big rigs seem to cause a disproportionate number of accidents and
injuries? Today, we are taking a look at the statistics behind truck accidents
and the reasons why they cause major damage on the highway.

Truck Accident Statistics in the United States

The reality is that commercial trucks are the most dangerous vehicles out
on the road. The annual death toll from truck accidents is the equivalent
of 26 plane crashes every year.
The cost of these accidents exceeds $19 billion a year.

In 2011, there were 3,781 fatalities connected with truck accidents, and
approximately 88,000
injuries, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. In both
cases, passengers of small, conventionally-sized vehicles were at a much
higher risk than the drivers and occupants of big rigs. Out of the 88,000
injuries that occurred in connection with truck accidents that year, only
23,000 victims were truck occupants. The remaining 64,000 were occupants
of other vehicles, and an additional 2,000 were non-occupants, including
cyclists and pedestrians.

Why Are Commercial Trucks So Dangerous for Other Drivers?

Trucks are not inherently dangerous—what makes them so is that something
goes wrong, the results are magnified due to their size. Cars have minor
mechanical issues all the time, but the same issue on a big rig could
result in a deadly crash.

There are multiple reasons for why trucks are so dangerous. These include:

Some of our highway infrastructure was not designed to support big trucks

In an effort to combat
fatigue, some truck drivers utilize
drugs such as Adderall and other amphetamines, which can negatively impact their
reaction time and other aspects of their driving abilities.

The other issue is
failure to maintain. Mechanical issues can affect the safety of a truck so much that a driver
is legally required to do an inspection before every trip. Like a pre-flight
checklist, a truck driver has to test the brakes (both engine brakes and
axle brakes), check the lights, ensure the cargo is secure, and complete
other basic steps in car upkeep. Trucking companies are also required
to maintain their fleet or risk being held liable for accidents that occur.

When the Problem Isn’t the Truck

The truck driver's margin for error is too small. What makes big rigs
so dangerous is what separates a minor error from a catastrophe could
be as simple as a couple hours of sleep, a
minor mechanical problem, or even drug use.

In an international study (based in South America), a third of truck drivers
admitted to using amphetamines while driving—the truth may be more
because the study relied on self-reporting. Half of the same truck drivers
surveyed admitted to drinking and driving. Ultimately, the truck is not
the most dangerous instrument on the road; it’s the driver.

Drivers are responsible for ensuring that they are fit to drive by taking
federally-mandated rest breaks and avoiding the need for substances at
all. Companies are also responsible for ensuring drivers are fit to drive—they’re
expected to hire drivers with safe records, provide training, and write
schedules that don't require long stretches of driving.

If drivers or trucking companies fail to do this, they may only make errors
that any driver would make—except that “any driver”
is not in control of an 80,000 missile traveling at 55 mph or higher.

What Is the Future of Truck Safety?

In the words of one organization, “Bigger trucks mean more dangerous
highways.” And trucks are getting bigger. When a truck collides
with a car passenger, the results can be
catastrophic. In the United States, approximately 70% of all freight is transported
via trucks. An estimated 15.5 million trucks currently operate in the
country, with over 3.5 million truck drivers nationwide. As the economy
improves and more Americans utilize online shopping, trucks will continue
to get bigger in order to accommodate increased demand. The time to promote
truck safety is now.

Speak with a Truck Injury Attorney from Arnold & Itkin

Because thousands of trucks traverse across the country on public roadways
each day, many people have personally experienced the results of a passenger
car / truck accident. When unqualified drivers are behind the wheels of
these trucks and have dangerous records, the drivers and the trucking
companies can and should be held responsible. When trucks are not maintained
to the degree that they should be, this factor can result in a crash too.
These manufacturers and companies should be held accountable. We can fight for you.
Call our truck accident lawyers now.

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